CA · Riverside · Updated October 15, 2026

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Riverside, CA

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Riverside area earn a median of $27.97 per hour, about $58,180 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $23.18 and $33.14. That ranks 17th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 18th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Riverside. The free report below lists employers near Riverside and what they pay.

More open Sterile Processing Technician roles in Riverside

1 more open role from employers in Riverside. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted 2 days ago

Sterile Processing Tech

Kaiser Permanente · Riverside, CA

Pay range with your report
  • Standard
  • Req 101900874592
New this week
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Sterile Processing Technician pay in Riverside, CA

The metro median is 7% below the California statewide median of $30.15 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 830 medical equipment preparers employed in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.04).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$19.36$40,27013% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$23.18$48,2104% above U.S. median
Median$27.97$58,18025% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$33.14$68,93048% above U.S. median
Top 10%$34.03$70,78052% above U.S. median

How Riverside ranks

  • 17th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 18th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
  • 15th of 21 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical Equipment Preparers (SOC 31-9093), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

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Named employers near Riverside, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Riverside

  • Overall prices in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario run 6% above the U.S. average (index 106.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 29% above the U.S. average (index 129.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $27.97 median hour buys what $26.28 buys at the national price level, 18% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Riverside paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,007
  • Per year: $50,346
  • Per month: $4,196

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Riverside

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$167
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,771
13-week assignment$23,023

Travel sterile processing technician assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Sterile Processing Technician roles in California

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Riverside as they open.

All Sterile Processing Technician jobs in California

Hospitals in Riverside

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Riverside, 1 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Riverside
Riverside, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center
Riverside, CA
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Riverside Community Hospital
Riverside, CA
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes
Pacific Grove Hospital
Riverside, CA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Sterile Processing Technician pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Jurupa Valley, CA6 mi$27.97/hr108,154
Colton, CA9 mi$27.97/hr53,528

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in California · Sterile Processing Technician jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Riverside

Riverside city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in Riverside, CA?

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area have a median pay of $27.97 per hour, about $58,180 a year. The middle half earn between $23.18 and $33.14 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Riverside a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario ranks 18th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 17th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% above the U.S. average.

Where do sterile processing technicians work in Riverside?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Riverside, led by Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Riverside. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Riverside as a sterile processing technician?

CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Riverside?

The federal per diem benchmark in Riverside is $167 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,771 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place sterile processing technicians in Riverside?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Riverside and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Riverside.

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What do employers near Riverside pay sterile processing technicians? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · SPD Tech near Riverside, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your SPD Tech pay reportRiverside, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 3 postings$43.97/ hr$38–$50
  • Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 2 postings$34.33/ hr$30–$39
  • CommonSpirit HealthSANTA MARIA, CA · 2 postings$29.99/ hr$25–$34
  • Palomar HealthEscondido, CA · 2 postings$28.27/ hr$23–$35

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$23Median$28.72High$39

20 SPD Tech postings with published pay in California, 19 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 20 SPD Tech roles

  1. Sterile Processing Tech II, Sterile Processing, Full-Time, Evenings (11am-7:30pm)Permanent
    $36.12–$42.34/ hour
    MarinHealth · Greenbrae, CA · posted today
  2. Sterile Processing Tech I (Full-Time, PMs)Permanent
    $22.46–$28.75/ hour
    Enloe Medical Center · Chico, CA · posted today

+ 18 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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